
1. Esalen Institute, Big Sur, CA
Situated on dramatic Big Sur cliffs about 45 miles south of Monterey, Esalen (55000 Highway 1, Big Sur, CA) has served as a West Coast mecca for fans of yoga, meditation, organic food, and spirituality since its founding in the early 1960s. The choice of Don Draper—Mad Men filmed its final episode on campus—Esalen has also hosted such real-life icons throughout the decades as Ansel Adams, Ray Bradbury, Joan Baez, Ravi Shankar, Bob Dylan, and many more. Today, Esalen continues to draw guests to its stunning 120-acre campus with more than 500 workshops a year in addition to conferences, research initiatives, and work-study programs all dedicated to personal and social transformation. All workshop pricing includes accommodations, meals, movement programming, and complete use of facilities—including the clothing-optional geothermal springs overlooking the crashing waves of the Pacific. Rates vary by program, and are all inclusive of accommodations, meals, and use of facilities.